ULFA could be behind blasts: Assam government

Guwahati, Oct 30 (IANS) The Assam government suspected the role of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) behind Thursday’s serial bombings here though the outlawed oranisation denied the charge.”The needle of suspicion is on the ULFA as they had in the past carried out such serial explosions in the state,” Assam government spokesman and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

“We need to now ascertain if the ULFA was helped or aided by other forces or groups.

“Preliminary investigations show that the bombs were strapped on bicycles and the explosives were packed with highly inflammable substances that led to big fires soon after the blasts,” the minister said.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said: “We have alerted the army and asked them to be on standby.”

The ULFA, however, denied having triggered the blasts. “We are in now way involved in the blasts,” an ULFA statement said.

At least 48 people were killed and about 300 injured in 11 blasts in parts of western Assam Thursday morning.